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braketheboxes wrote (edited )

First realize in the west especially we are constantly bombarded with hollywood icons with the aim of manipulating us into spending our slave wages on products and services we do not need.

The gym rat culture thing arises from insecurity due to the above. The constant need to compare is the same as narcissists on facebook <stasibook>. I pity them to be honest because they are caught in a mental trap. Despite what one thinks it does not define one as a person as it is an external thing. So in identifying myself as a gym rat I'm going to feel threatened if I'm perceived to be less of a gym rat than my image of myself as one. It creates a constant state of conflict and tension within oneself.

I would like to point out also that women have a tremendous pressure from the cosmetics and fashion industries. Like men who are all supposed to be ripped lumberjacks and james bond supermen, women are made to feel inadequate if they are not kim kardashian or celebrity du jour. Selfies and social media doesn't help in this regard.

From a personal point of view I care about living a clean and healthy lifestyle. I look for the same in a partner. That being said, I don't desire them to dress a certain way or wear particular products or whatever. I'm interested in a persons mind the most though.

Exercise is necessary for living a healthy life. If it comes to it I want to know I can lift my own weight or save another person or out run state enforcers.

Mandela and his fellow political prisoners did pushups and ran on the spot in there cells every morning.

If anyone who reads this doesn't exercise I would recommend doing some yoga. It is low intensity and will help reduce stress and keep you supple.

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